The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-08-20
OLD FORT WASHINGTON.
Charms Of Famous Spot Whore the Re-
dictionary Army Was Sheltered.


County, will see on the brow of the hill
which commands this road the remain
Of a fort All that is left in these day
One hundred and ten years sine
Washington. forewarned, directed tn
building of the fort that bears hi
name-is a grass.covered mound o
earth forming three sides Of a square
twenty by twenty-five yards, sever
feet in height at the south angle.
The sun was beating holly down OF
the undulating spread of rich farming
country, when the visitor climbed thu
grassy hillside. All traces of the ditcl
that once surrounded the fort have
been effaced by the elements and BY
the trampling Of the feet of the thou
sands of visitors who have climbed thu
hillside to see the place where General
Washington's army, weak and demon
allied from the defeat at Germantown,
were saved from surprise and capture
at the then most critical period in the
history of the young republic
Near the highest points on the earth
works there is q great cherry tree.
The fruit has ripened, and hung in
crimson clusters as the visitor sat in
its shade yesterday and looked off over
the fertile lowlands. To the east the
top of Camp Hill can be seen, where
the regular army was encamped. A
handsome residence now crowns its
summit. Then there is stretch to the
southwark of fields rich in growing
crops. Edge Hill and the big furnace
greet the eye as its looks still further
south. and like threads of silver the
rails of the North Pennsylvania rail-
road stretch away in the distance.
Oreland valley is also seen. Four
miles further off are spires of churches
and the turreted roofs of handsome
country residences. This is Chestnut
Hill, Philadelphia's most beautiful
suburban town.
To the left is Barren Hill. marked
by single church spire. This they
call Lafayette Hill now. from the fact
that Marquis de Lafayette and his
division of the army once occupied it
as lookout station. Here it was that
he was nearly captured by the British,
and had it not been for Captain Story,
who lived at Whitemarsh. Lafayette's
career would have had a sudden ter
mination. Story saw the British troops
marching at night along the Skippack
road leading to Barren Hill. Without
hat or coat, he started to warn
Lafayette. Another minnteman to
whom Story told the tale carried the
warning just in time for the American
troops to be withdrawn across the
Schuylkill at Matson's Ford. now Con.
shOcken.
Rising sharply from the edge of the
romantic Wissahickon is Militia Hill,
where are the ruins Of an old lime
kiln, where the first limestone was
burned in Pennsylvania two hundred
years ago. ct. Thomas Episcopal
Church crowns the top Of Church Hill.
just before us. whilst down in the val
ley is an old farm -house, built in the
English style. part stone and part i'm.
ported brick. The place has wide
halls and open fireplaces and it is
owned by an English gentleman who
has given it the name Of Hope Lodge
During the revolution the pretty daugh-
ter of the tory owner of this house had
for lover an officer Of the Continental
army. His suit discouraged. he. like
n knight Of the olden time, kidnapped
his pretty sweetheart and married her.
Their descend ants yet live In the beau
tiful valley.
Past here the road leads that once
resounded with the rumble Of the
Conestoga wagons-the forerunner of
steam railroads-and near by Is the
"Whitemarsh House." the noted stop
ping place Of the old stage route be-
tween Bethlehem and Philadelphia. A
mile below is Valley Green, known as
in 1884 Near by is the
old mill where fifty years ago the
farmers Of the rich country thereabouts
brought their wheat to be ground and
after the primitive miller had chalked
the number of bushels on their hats
they went to Miller Matthew'S Office to
get their cash. The place is in ruins
but the mansion house near by is in an
excellent state Of preservation. The
Amber chemical-works is in sight,
where magnesium 10 made from the
quarries close at hand.
In the blue distance. family seen In
the quivering heat waves Of this mid
summer day, arc the hills Of Valley
Forge. Eighteen miles away they are.
to be sure, but It is easy to bridge thu
distance and the more than century If
years and see Washington's army
through the wintry stormy.
cold and ragged and heartbroken.
One can imagine the blood-stainod
tracks on the snow and the koson
ground Of the valley yonder after that
memorable march Of December, l777.
The cleaning 10 coming fast and In
the quiet Of the hills that il broken
only by the hum Of insects and the
Avvittas. ~ thu hls,f1a l., sthA 4A.... ~.